Summary of the book "the way we're working isn't working" - doesn't substitute buying the book and reading it, but summarises key principles.

1. The way we are working.....
isn't working :-(
Volker Ballueder
cb consulting - www.volkerballueder.com
@ballueder
Inspired by "The way we're working isn't working" by Tony Schwartz, with
Jean Gomes, and Catherine McCarthy, Ph.D.

2. Why?
Introduction
I am putting this presentation together for a few reasons. One is
that I am impressed by the book (see title slide), so thought it is
worthwhile putting a good summary together. On the other hand, I
am keen on implementing some principles myself, and in our
company. Making it a better place for everyone.
It is not only productivity that is discussed but energy households,
time management etc. Spirituality. I believe this book is only the
beginning for a more comprehensive theory.

3. Life has changed - work does too
Urgency characterises most corporate cultures
Undermining of thoughtful deliberation, creativity,
engagement, and sustainable high performance
"Time for Money" exchange is unsatisfying
Investment in employees fuel greater engagement, better
performance
Time @work vs. value produced per hours worked
Quality vs. quantity
Humans are designed to pulse between the expenditure
and the intermittent renewal of energy

4. What's happening....at the workplace?
The more hours we work and the longer we go without
renewal, the more we begin to default, reflexively, into
behaviours that reduce our own effectiveness - impatience,
frustration, distraction, and disengagement - and take a
pernicious toll on others (p.4).
- gray zone
- juggling activities
- own belief system vs. organisational life
- fixed in habits that might be suboptimal

5. Let's have a look
Summary of the book.
The full version (book) will give
you better insights! Go and buy it!

6. Primary Needs
Similar to Maslow: it is about
meaning, emotions but also
about fitness/energy levels.

7. Sources of Energy
1. Physical (sustainability)
regular breaks
2. Emotional (security)
feeling valued
cares about someone (me as a person)
encourages development
3. Mental (self expression)
lack of absorbed focus takes a toll on the quality of
whatever we do
4. Spiritual (significance)
add value to the greater good

8. The Renewal Quadrants
(Physical - Sustainability)

9. The Emotional Quadrants
(Security)

10. The Focus Quadrants
(mental - self expression)

11. The Spiritual Quadrants
(Significance)

12. How do we get there?
First practical guide.

13. Awareness is key
How many hours do you work without a break?
How tired are you at 5 pm?
How satisfied are you with your job?
How stressful is it to keep work and life in a balance?
Don't lose access to yourself.
Understand your needs.
Any strengths overused becomes a liability, e.g. any
overstretched muscle becomes weak.
Long term thinking vs. short term career goals.

14. Habits and Rituals
Long term change needs positive rituals.
Ever tried to quit smoking???
Being motivated towards something (rather than away
from something).
Once a habit is created, it will be easy to NOT change -
break habits for the better.
Define behaviours (development of behavioural models)
Get over the resistance to change.
Willpower and discipline.
Use a routine to build a habit.

15. Stepping Stones
Eating an elephant....one bite at a time.

16. We can't change what we don't notice
most informed, under-reflective people
self-awareness
"Chasing Daylight": 100 days left
Focus on the here and now (Tolle)
Focus on yourself, your self perception
Focus on your goals
Calibrate the difference between your dreams & reality

17. Qualities of humans - a collection
extroverted introspective
decisive open-minded
confident humble
logical intuitive
tactical reflective
pragmatic visionary
discerning accepting
honest compassionate
courageous prudent
tenacious flexible
tough minded empathic

18. Human Body
Heartbeat
Brain Waves
Body Temperature
Blood Pressure
Hormone Levels
Important to take care of ourselves physically
Energy: eating, moving, sleeping, working, relationships
Renewal!
Alternate between active forms of renewal

19. How much coffee do you drink?
ideal 7-8 hours sleep per day:
average 6-6.5 hours
sleep deprivation takes a toll on:
health overall
emotional well being
cognitive functioning
First thing we sacrifice!
Then again you could live with
2 hours sleep per 24 hour. Giraffes do....

20. 90 minute rule
Oscillation of 90 minutes from high level of alertness to
low level of alertness.
"Ultradian Cycles"
Renewal phase needs to be sufficient & effective
passive: meditating, napping, listening to music
active: sport, gym, aerobics, raised heartrate
Better Performance if we sleep 2x day
night (6 hrs)
afternoon/siesta (20-60 min)

21. Ultradian Rhythm

22. Weekly Pulse

23. Important: Exercise
Keeps you fit physically
Followed by deep recovery increases capacity
Mental well-being
Emotional well-being
Sleep and exercise increases our energy level in all
aspects of life!
6x week for 20-45 minutes, min. 10 min. in one session
Strengths as well as endurance training

24. Important: Food
Key to keep a stable/steady blood
sugar level at all times.
Junk Food gives us a quick hit but
no long term benefit.
Constantly eating without being
stuffed is better than over filling,
then go without eating, then get a
quick sugar hit.....
Plan your "daily journey" in
advance; plan your "pit stops"

25. Corporate Culture - Management
Competency important to do a job
Capacity even more important!
Commuting takes a huge toll on productivity
Optimal times during the week when doing
challenging work
admin work
creative work
strategic thinking
relationship building

26. Emotions/Spiritual
Going beyond what you can measure.

27. Emotional Quadrants
1. PERFORMANCE ZONE
where you want to be
2. SURVIVAL ZONE
sense of threat or danger
3. RECOVERY ZONE
renew from emotional de-stability of survival zone
4. BURNOUT ZONE
let's not even go here unless absolute necessary

28. Survival Zone
Our nature senses danger
Fight or Flight
Self Awareness to identify triggers
Control triggers (Emotional Intelligence)
Resist urge to act or act too quickly
Seeking: Security, creating Value
"A leader who is secure in his own values is freed to
invest energy in empowering others and ultimately
in fuelling the organisation's broader success"

29. The Whole
When you are the hero in the story and do things well,
then you are happy.
Often you are negative and you blame others.
The easy story isn't the good story.
We need to acknowledge our shortcomings (be open about
our weaknesses) alongside our strengths. Accepting the
whole of yourself! The whole of yourself is about negative
and positive points, but if you can strengthen the positive
and improve the negative, then you will overall gain more!

30. CEO - Chief ENERGY Officer
Balance between challenging people &
recognising/rewarding
Negative emotions don't motivate!
"Do not harm" - whilst bad is stronger than good, avoid
anger, intimidation & shame
Regularly recognise and show appreciation of
accomplishments
Balance honesty and appreciation

31. Attention - not attention deficit
We cannot multitask.
Best performance when most singularly
focused on any given task.
Set agenda, don't get disturbed.
Prioritise!
Information are best processed in small
chunks.
Distractions: Email, phone calls,
colleagues etc.

32. One thing at a time
Focused attention can be strengthened like a muscle by
practise & exercise!
External distraction
No. 1: Email
Desire to connect and react
Set time aside to reflect and focus
Internal distraction
Chatter
Meditation
One thing at a time

33. Left-Right Brain

34. Brain
LEFT RIGHT
Logical usually undertrained &
Sequential underdeveloped
Rational creative
Analytical holistic
Objective openness
Looks at parts empathy
activate it by quieting the
mind: meditation, day
dreaming, drawing

35. Creativity
- encourage whole brain activity
- blanking out one brain half
- just letting go
1. saturation (gathering facts)
2. incubation (mulling over facts)
3. Illumination (finding the idea)
4. Verification (does it work)

36. Promote Absorbed Focus
Policies to focus on one thing at a time.
Clarify expectations to response to emails.
Ban emails in meetings.
Start-Stop times for meetings.
Intermittent rest for renewal during the day.
Offer an office with breakout areas and private rooms.
Creativity increases innovation.
Let employees choose WHEN and WHERE to work -
make them accountable on the value delivered.

37. We are a TEAM
As a team we serve beyond our self-interest
Adding value to others is a source of energy!
More energy is brought to activities we enjoy!
Put what you enjoy in the service beyond self-interest.
No "I" in team.
CEOs:
create work that is enjoyable and creates energy
create a job around values & purpose
approach to what we work on
renew employees regularly

38. Find Yourself
What is it you want from life?
How are you going to achieve that?
Why are you wanting to achieve that?
Inner values & spiritual energy
Clear sense of purpose
Cultivate spiritual energy
inner work of defining and reflection on our values
outer work of bringing our intentions to life in our
behaviour

39. Passion - personal & corporate
Turning passion into profit :-)
Company values - what does the company stand for?
Connect with employees' values
Employees need to share a purpose
Organisation as a living organism!
As individuals grow and increase capacity, the
organisation becomes stronger.
Meet needs of your employees.
Focus on the purpose of your actions as a leader.
Inspiring Vision!

40. Questions/Suggestions
Volker Ballueder
Productivity &
Personal Development Coach
cb consulting
BLOG: www.volkerballueder.com
TWITTER: www.twitter.com/ballueder @ballueder
LINKEDIN: http://uk.linkedin.com/in/ballueder